Poetry rants sermons and essays by a Friend learning to live with Jesus

Learning from small children

What is in a name?
Could the very nature change?
Is it mundane to be John?
Is it exotic to be Jean?

Does the mind expect something new?
When names change does food change?
Does rice remain rice in every language?
Or is it better in Chinese or Italian?

The mind remembers excitement at the unknown
Wishing to learn new things
New wonder remains new wonder
Even when learning that much remains the same

People are people
Rice remains rice
Perhaps the mind changes but not the substance
Is perception as important as reality?

Perhaps people create reality through perception
Is not life what a man makes of it?
Maybe a new language does make a new dish
Perhaps Jean is substantially different than John

It was such a warm evening
Sun shining brightly
Though sunrise was late and sunset early
If it were July, it would be called cold and dark

Perception makes all the difference
So beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder
The eater decides what is tasteful
So Risotto can be wonderful while rice is yucky

A friend of mine was telling about her daughter: She told how she asked the family whether they would prefer “seafood risotto” or “cheesy rice with tuna” for dinner. The family of course chose “seafood risotto,” so she asked her daughter if she wanted the cheesy rice. The young lady said “no, that’s yucky, I want the risotto.” Though rice was yucky, the wanted more of the risotto after eating it all up — the only difference is calling it rice in Italian instead of English. English was “yucky”, Italian was “I want more.” Sometimes there is a difference of names and of perception.

Post navigation

2 comments on “Learning from small children”

I asked Gizmo if that was his real name.
He said ,” No thats my street name.”
“Do you like being called Gizmo?”
“No I hate it”
“Whats your real name”
“Lamont Carlique xxxxxxxx”
“Would you like me to call you Lamont?”
“Yes”
Lamont is now my friend

Similsr conversation with Cici.
Her real name is Silicia and she is now my friend.

Names and perceptions are powerful and you have done an excellent job with that . Thank you.